This disclosure concerns suburethral and pelvic support structures which utilize tissue soldering materials instead of, or in addition to, traditional tissue anchors and suture knots. It further concerns methods of treating patients that includes implanting these structures and activating the tissue soldering materials to attach the structures to a tissue in the body of the patient.

A shape-formable apparatus comprising locking sheets. The apparatus can have a first state in which the apparatus is formable, and a second state in which the apparatus has the desired shape and is substantially less formable than in the first state. The apparatus can further include an envelope defining a chamber, a port positioned to fluidly couple the chamber with ambience, and at least two locking sheets positioned in the chamber in an at least partially overlapping configuration. Each locking sheet comprises a major surface, and at least a portion of each locking sheet can be patterned to include solid regions and open regions, the solid regions being movable with respect to one another within the major surface.

Method of using a shape-formable apparatus. A shape-formable apparatus can include an envelope defining a chamber, a port positioned to fluidly couple the chamber with ambience, and at least two locking sheets positioned in the chamber in an at least partially overlapping configuration. Each locking sheet can include a major surface, and at least a portion of each locking sheet can be patterned to include solid regions and open regions, the solid regions being movable with respect to one another within the major surface. The method can include providing the shape-formable apparatus in a first state; forming the apparatus into a desired shape; and reducing the pressure in the chamber to change the apparatus from the first state to a second state in which the apparatus is substantially less formable than in the first state.

An anterior cervical includes a plate portion for stabilizing a human or animal spine by being placed ventrally of the spinal column and affixed to two or more different vertebral bodies, and a plurality of fastening portions adapted to be anchored in the different vertebral bodies. At least one of the fastening portions is rigidly connected to the plate portion and includes a sheath element with a longitudinal opening that is accessible from a proximal side and at least one hole that reaches from the longitudinal opening to an outside. The anterior cervical plate further includes a thermoplastic element that may be inserted in the sheath element and that is capable of being liquefied by, for example, mechanical energy acting on the thermoplastic element.

A flow restrictor (50) for an embolization device (10), the flow restrictor having an inner hole (52) for receiving a stem (20) of the embolization device to mount the flow restrictor on the embolization device, wherein the flow restrictor comprises: a membrane (56) for restricting flow in the bodily lumen, having a first elasticity; and a reinforcing section (54) having a second elasticity and at least partially surrounding the inner hole.

Medical devices and methods of using medical devices are disclosed. An example tissue engagement device includes a first actuation member including a body coupled to a first jaw and a second jaw at a pivot point, wherein the body is designed to shift between a first configuration and a first compressed configuration and a second actuation member coupled to the first actuation member at the pivot point and at a fixation point, wherein the second actuation member is designed to shift between a second configuration and a second compressed configuration. Further, shifting the first actuation member from the first configuration to the first compressed configuration, shifting the second actuation member from the second configuration to the second compressed configuration, or both, shifts the first jaw and the second jaw between a closed configuration and an open configuration.

Disclosed is a graft for a biological tube including a graft having a hollow of a specific length, having openings at opposite ends along a lengthwise direction thereof, and being contractible, and the graft is contracted to be adhered to outer peripheral surfaces of biological tubes when heat is applied to the graft in a state, in which portions of the biological tubes are inserted into the openings of the graft.

Systems and methods for treating vertebral compression fractures are discussed. In an embodiment, a method includes mixing bone cement precursors thereby causing a first chemical curing reaction characterized by a first time-viscosity profile, controllably applying energy to the bone cement from an external source to modify the first time-viscosity profile to a second time-viscosity profile, and injecting the cement into bone at a substantially constant viscosity greater than about 1000 Pa.Math.s to greater than about 5000 Pa.Math.s over an extended working time. In another embodiment, a bone cement injector system is provided that includes a first handle component that is detachably coupled to a second sleeve component having a distal end for positioning in bone and a flow channel extending through the first and second components. The system includes first and second thermal energy emitters for delivering energy to bone cement flows in a flow channel portion in the first and second components, respectively.

The invention provides a filter assembly including a string or wire such that a lasso type cincture is effected, said filter being openable and closeable while in deployed within a bodily vessel. A string lengthen or shorting adjustment mechanism, such as a ratchet or reel allows more length of string into the device or alternatively to shorten the length of available string in the system. The described invention, when used to ameliorate venous clots and most arterio-venous dialysis grafts, a filter-tipped aspirator is used downstream from the clot to capture and remove dislocated emboli. A method of using same is disclosed.

An implant for bone fixation is presented. The implant comprises an elongated member configured to be wound around bone parts that are to be fixed. Further, an engagement feature is provided that is coupled to the elongated member and configured to engage a portion of the elongated member so as to secure the implant in a loop around the bone parts. A fastening member is arranged between and coupled to the elongated member and the engagement member. The fastening member comprises at least one opening for receiving a bone fastener. In one variant, at least one visual indicator indicating a region of the fastening member to be severed in order to detach the implant is provided. In another variant, at least one of the engagement member and the elongated member are coupled to the fastening member by injection molding.